Published: October 09, 2008 10:10 am         

A second public meeting explains ideas

By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier

SPRINGFIELD — Madison Square Garden Entertainment representatives told Springfield residents they are interested in hearing their input on a proposed three-day Arts and Music Festival that is expected to attract 75,000 people to a more than 1,000 acre site off Route 20.

The comments came during another public information meeting hosted by MSG in the Springfield Community Center Tuesday evening.

Unlike many projects which come for review after planning has been completed, MSG’s proposal came to the town while is was still in its very early stages of development, said Dan Ruzow, an environmental consultant for the project with the law firm Whiteman Osterman and Hanna in Albany.

It allowed project developers to invoke the State Environmental Quality Review process early in the process and involve the public in the planning, he said..

MSG has submitted the draft scoping document, which will help determine what will be addressed in an environmental impact statement that must be prepared for the project.

The draft, Ruzow said, contains what MSG thought should be in the environmental impact statement and now the public’s input is needed so that all concerns about the project are included and mitigation measures may be formulated.

MSG Vice-President Don Simpson made a presentation to the audience about the revised site plan submitted to the planning during its meeting less than a week earlier.

But before getting to the project details, he took the time to better explain his comments about a heli-pad he made during the planning board presentation.

Simpson had said last Thursday the heli-pad was not included in the drawings, but they planned to have one.

The comment prompted a question from Harry Levine, of the Advocates for Springfield, who asked what else was planned, but left off the drawings. Simpson explained Tuesday that New York State has very stringent rules and regulations governing heli-pads and that any helicopter could use the pad anytime of year.

A permanent pad was not our intent, but a threeday medi-vac pad was, Simpson said. The site will be cordoned off and used only during the festival. ``There is nothing else we are not telling you,’’ Simpson said.

He reiterated much of his presentation made earlier to the planning board before opening up to questions. Concerns were expressed about how sewage would be handled and Ruzow said they are currently studying options to avoid as much as possible the use of porta-jons. The permanent restrooms being proposed would be more sanitary than porta-jons, he said.

Pete Wilder, who lives nearby at the head of Otsego Lake asked about the number of people who may leave the site to go swimming or explore the area. Simpson said they have been working with the Otsego County sheriff’s office and the state police as well as their own security on how best to handle that. He said most people who come to a festival and pay $200 or more for a ticket want to be on site for the music. There will be no inand- out privileges so once a person leaves the site, they will not be able to return. MSG will have to have a security plan in place that is approved by state and local law enforcement officials. A Department of Health mass gathering permit requires a security plan that is blessed by the state police, Ruzow said.

``I can’t tell you today what that will be, but we’re going through the process,’’ he said.

The cost of deputies and troopers working on security will be paid for by MSG.

``Safety and security are our number one priorities,’’ Simpson said.

Residents were also concerned about drug use at the festival and Simpson said the sheriff and state police intend to enforce the laws of New York State. Police will be on the festival grounds and ``if you get caught, you will be arrested.’’ Preparations for the festival and clean up afterwards, particularly after the first year, will happen quickly. Simpson estimated it would take 10 to 15 days for set up and a little less than a week to close up the grounds when the festival is over.

Simpson said financial benefits the town would see include jobs, sales and property taxes and an as yet undetermined benefit package. He said they plan to provide some benefits to the community and they would be included in the draft environmental impact statement.

``That’s when people will see the proof is in the pudding,’’ he said.

He was asked again about providing some type of guarantee there would be only one festival each year and that it would not grow to more.

``I’ve said over and over it’s one three-day festival with 75,000 people maximum,’’ Simpson said. ``As we go through the process, we will find ways to satisfy people.’’